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ASTRAKAN PROJECT

There are three (6 listed) major meanings to the name ‘Astrakan’.

  1. Astrakhan (with an h) : a Russian town on the Volga river and Caspian Sea 

  2. Astrakan (in French):

  3. A very soft high grade pelt from the black sheep Karakul.

  4. A red apple with origins from Astrakhan.

  5. A knitting stitch pretty much used in Aran knitting styles.

  6. Astrakan Project:  Strakañ: to clap in the Breton language. Kan: singing.

Number 6 is what describes this band the best. Breton is a Celtic language still spoken by people in the western part of France. It has connections with the Welsh and Cornish.

The band members are Simone Alves: vocals and Yann Gourvil: strings and programming.

Simone is originally from Portugal. Yann is from Brittany. They both now call Brittany their home but travel from Istanbul to Brittany. Their songs are about love, death, passion, revenge, politics and legends. Kalon [‘ka:lɔ̃n] is a beautiful Breton word meaning heart, is used in most of the songs. “Kalonad“, basically means “the content of your heart”. Some of the songs are really old, they can be kind of laments, and will mostly be about tragic facts and mythology. They might be a few centuries old and some may go back to the middle ages. Some others are more recent.

Astrakan Project has released three CD’s. Their first one called ‘Astrakan Project’ came out  Sept. 2012. Their second one called ‘Within the Circle’ came out Nov. 2013. Their latest one called ‘Astrakan Project B’ came out in Oct. 2014. This review is about their CD ‘Astrakan Project B’.

  • Sell Ouzh ar Stered/Look at the Stars – The sky is dark. Look at the magnitude of the universe. When you are with someone who wants to share this with you, the love of it has you looking at all of the stars. Which ones draw you closer to what the formations try to convey? The instruments are: ‘ud, violin, electric guitar and cello played by Ginette Davis.

  • En Anv Doue Ma Mamm/Mother, In the Name of God – A haunting tune about why a mother would want to kill one of her sons? What would be her reason? We find out as she asks her maid to carry out the deed but she refuses. What does her other son do? – A traditional song. The instruments are: acoustic and electric guitar and ‘ud.

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  • Sekrejou ar C’hloareg/The Young Clerc’s Secret – A traditional lament of the heart. It is a march of lyrics that have been gathered so that they would forever be etched within the ache of love. The instruments are: acoustic and electric guitar, violin and drums.

  • Gwerz ar Yougoslavi/Yougoslavia’s Lament – The separation of people, because of different cultures, had become a political decision. For ages they have been living together as one. It is hard for them to comprehend what politics can do to their core beliefs. What happens to the people they have known? The instruments are: saz (baglama), acoustic and electric guitar and darbuka.

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  • Seihz Vloaz/Seven Years – Dredges the echoes of a beloved’s death. How many years would it take to see her again? Locked up and waiting, a ghost appears showing her form but never can he bring her back. The instruments are: ‘ud, electric guitar, violin and darbuka.

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  • Marv Eo Ma Mestrez/My Beloved Has Died – The bass shows the depth and the guitar follows. A potent song of loss. Once his beloved has died, all faith, joy and hope are lost within the realm. You feel the ache of his heart. The instruments are: acoustic and electric guitar and violin.

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  • Ar C’hased Arc’hant/The Sailor’s Heart – Heavy pulsing rock in an Indian melancholia. Women always pray that their beloveds won’t get lost and die at sea. They plea that the wind is ominous and the night seems insidious. “Don’t go!” Instruments played: electric guitar and ‘ud.

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  • Ur Plac’h Yaouank Ag an Oriant/The Young Girl from Lorient – The victims? Beautiful girls. The captors? Vikings or Saxon sailors. Their mission? Longed for booty. “Come here beautiful girl. You are our captive!” Instruments played: ‘ud, electric and acoustic guitar.

Simone’s voice draws you into the ancient and mythological tragedies of murders and death. Follow the timeless compass of eternal laments and be enthralled.

For more information about Astrakan Project go to:

https://astrakanproject.com/

Denise  L. @DL7855

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